Hickory, North Carolina
Among the top 6% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 46% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 49% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 13% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 94% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 57% of US places
- top 13% for commute time
- top 15% for park & nature access
- bottom 4% for property crime
Hickory is a mid-size city in North Carolina with about 43,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, park & nature access, and annual snowfall. It rates lower on school quality and property crime.
Official websitehickorync.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Moderate rain
cold
cool
comf.
warm
hot
warm
comf.
cool
cold
63%52%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.4 in3.6 in
muggy 89%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$58k43rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$47kbetter than 45% of US places
Home Value$234k68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$917better than 49% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 46% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.80%better than 63% of US places
Income Tax4.50%better than 61% of US places
Sales Tax7.00%better than 60% of US places
Estimated total tax burden10.04%better than 47% of US places
Unemployment6.2%better than 30% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)40°F70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)78°F63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation47.1 in67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall0.3 inbetter than 84% of US places
Sunny Days187 daysbetter than 15% of US places
Summer Humidity68°Fbetter than 26% of US places
Comfortable Days88 daysbetter than 65% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk51.2better than 70% of US places
Air Quality46 AQIbetter than 50% of US places
School Quality35.4better than 8% of US places
Violent Crime1204/100kbetter than 27% of US places
Property Crime3504/100kbetter than 4% of US places
Community
Population43,35297th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.935th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4982nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9441st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3863rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)65.5%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)13.2%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)13.2%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)4.0%88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.1%63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time20 minbetter than 87% of US places
Walkability8.7/20better than 80% of US places
Airport Distance40 mibetter than 74% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access87.8%better than 56% of US places
Amenities Nearby22.84better than 23% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 85% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hickory an affordable place to live?
- Hickory is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $47k, better than 45% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Hickory?
- The median home value in Hickory is $234k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Hickory?
- Median household income in Hickory is $58k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Hickory?
- Median gross rent in Hickory is $917 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Hickory safe?
- Hickory is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1204/100k (better than 27%). Property crime is 3504/100k.
- What is the weather like in Hickory?
- Hickory averages 78°F in July and 40°F in January, with 47.1 in of annual precipitation and about 187 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Hickory?
- Public-school quality in Hickory is below average, scoring better than 8% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Hickory?
- The average one-way commute in Hickory is 20 min.
Places near Hickory
Compare Hickory
Explore North Carolina
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)